Otoplasty

Prominent ears are the most common deformity of the ear auricles, where the ears protrude from the head and can cause significant psychological distress in both men and women, boys and girls. Many individuals find ways to cover them with their hair, and some avoid swimming or exposing their ears in public.

Otoplasty (ear surgery) is the term used for the corrective procedure. It is considered a routine operation performed by plastic surgeons.

The issue is primarily anatomical. In a natural ear, the helix and antihelix should be well-formed and clearly defined, forming a 90° angle. In prominent ears, this angle is often larger than 90°, and the antihelix is usually underdeveloped or absent, giving the appearance of a protruding ear. A second contributing factor may be a large and deep concha, which pushes the ear forward and outward.

The surgery can be performed in children as early as the immediate pre-school age, around 5–6 years old. This can help avoid psychological trauma caused by teasing from other children. There is no age limit for older candidates.

Otoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia. A local anesthetic is injected into the ear, numbing it for about two to three hours. Very fine needles are used to minimize the discomfort of the injection, making otoplasty almost painless.

However, in cases where the patient is not cooperative (typically children aged 5–12), light sedation or general anesthesia may be required. All otoplasty procedures are outpatient, meaning there is no need for an overnight hospital stay.

There are many techniques and variations that can be applied. They may involve:

• Correction using stitches only

• Partial removal of cartilage

• Thinning or scoring of the cartilage

• Or a combination of the above methods

Each case is assessed individually to determine the most appropriate approach.